Graphics Programs Reference
In-Depth Information
Art?
Art, in many instances, requires transcendence of its medium; it speaks of its own
accord. Art goes beyond the mechanics of how you create it (whether by brush or mouse)
and takes on its own life. Learning to look beyond what you're working
with
and seeing
what you're working
for
is the key to creating art with CG. Try not to view this experience
as learning a software package, but as learning a way of working to an end. As you begin
learning 3D with Maya, you acquire a new language—a new form of communication.
Keep in mind that the techniques you acquire are only a means to the end.
Relax and enjoy yourself.
It's hard to relax when you're trying to cram so much information into your brain.
But keep in mind that you should try not to make this experience about how a software
program works; instead, make it about how you work with the software. Maya is only
your tool.
When hiring professional 3D artists, CG studios keenly look for a strong artistic sense,
whether in a traditional portfolio or a CG reel. Therefore, it's paramount to fortify the
artist within yourself and practice traditional art such as life drawing, photography, paint-
ing, or sculpture as you learn CG, beginning with the core principles introduced in this
first chapter. Keep in mind that the computer you'll be using for 3D work is nothing more
than a tool. You run it; it doesn't run you.
3D is a part of the daily visual lexicon. With the availability of inexpensive and fast
computers, everyone can create their own CG projects. Artists everywhere are adding
the language of CG to their skill set. So before you start learning a particular CG tool—
Maya, in this case—make sure you have a grasp of the fundamental issues underlying
CG. It's important.
Computer Graphics
CG and CGI are the abbreviations for
computer graphics
and
computer graphics imagery
,
respectively, and are often used interchangeably. CG literally refers to any picture or
series of pictures that is generated by an artist on a computer. However, the industry con-
vention is to use the terms
CG
and
CGI
to refer to 3D graphics and not to images created
using 2D image or paint programs such as Photoshop.
Most 2D graphics software is bitmap based, whereas all 3D software is vector based.
Bitmap-based software creates an image as a mosaic of pixels, filled in one at a time. Vector-
based software creates an image as a series of mathematical instructions from one calcu-
lated, or graphed, point to another. This much more powerful method for creating graphics
is behind all the impressive CG images you've seen in movies, videogames, and so on. It's
also the method for the images you'll soon create with Maya. You'll learn more about vec-
tors and bitmaps in the section “Computer Graphics Concepts” later in this chapter.
